Meet Jen Brown

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jen Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Hi Jen, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

My confidence and self-esteem have grown significantly over time. If you had spoken to me 10 years ago, I would have been quite confused by these questions, as I struggled with self-image issues and major anxiety! Building my confidence was a gradual process, achieved by pushing myself into uncomfortable but beneficial situations. My journey began in the human resources field, where I spent many years before becoming an acupuncturist and opening my own business. While I initially disliked the constant challenges and projects in my HR roles, they taught me valuable lessons about trial and error and overcoming the fear of failure. During this period, I also discovered yoga, initially as a way to relieve stress but eventually as a passion. Yoga helped me reconnect with my body and see my limiting beliefs more clearly. Interestingly, participating in social media yoga challenges and taking photos of myself in various poses helped me become more comfortable with my self-image and see my progress positively. This practice reinforced my self-esteem and showed me that improvement was possible.

About seven years into my HR career, despite feeling confident in the field and having even completed my master’s degree in HR, I realized I was not truly happy. Severe back pain kept me from my passion for very active yoga, which led me to acupuncture. I learned to really shift gears and slow down. Acupuncture profoundly impacted me, helping me hone my mind-body connection in a different way and gain more clarity on my life’s direction. This revelation prompted me to pursue a career in acupuncture and move to Austin, Texas, for acupuncture school, leaving behind all the only city I really knew, my core friends and all my family in Chicago. This move was a turning point where I truly discovered my resilience and perseverance. Through these experiences, I learned what I stand for, how I want to live, and how I wanted to help others. The journey of understanding myself enabled me to make a significant career change confidently and embrace my new path with conviction! Without these experiences, I don’t think I would have been able to start my own acupuncture practice or become an entrepreneur so easily. I continue to develop my self-esteem and self-confidence through similar tactics. Being uncomfortable putting yourself in new situations is only natural, but it reaps great rewards if you allow it!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) and board-certified herbalist in Texas, and I hold a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine. Currently I am continuing my studies as a Doctoral Candidate at Pacific College of Health and Science. I am also certified by AOBTA in Tuina bodywork and ICTA as a body cupping practitioner. With over 10 years of experience teaching yoga, I approach my patients’ care with compassion and personalized attention. Coming from a family with many generations of MDs, I have immense respect for modern Western healthcare and I appreciate blending Eastern and Western medicine to achieve the best possible results for my patients. Within the sanctuary of my treatment space, I strive to create a haven for healing. My goal is to provide a safe, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere where patients feel encouraged to explore and expand their understanding of their bodies and health. I enjoy empowering my patients to actively engage in their health journey through self-care practices rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. My focus extends beyond symptom relief, aiming to address root causes and guide patients to harmony in body, mind, and spirit. Areas that I specialize in are women’s health/hormone health, mental health/stress, and pain management. When I’m not in the realm of learning, needles, and healing, you’ll likely catch me exploring the trails of Austin, cooling off and enjoying a swim in Barton Springs, flowing through yoga classes, experimenting with wholesome recipes, and creating cute moments with my cat, Baloo.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were business exposure, curiosity, and a willingness to mess up. My HR career provided invaluable business exposure, teaching me about operations, strategic thinking, and problem-solving. My advice is to seek opportunities to learn about various aspects of business through internships, volunteering, or diverse roles. This will enhance your decision-making and strategic skills.
Curiosity drove me to explore yoga and acupuncture, leading to new career paths and personal growth. Cultivate curiosity by continuously learning and exploring new interests. Attend workshops, read extensively, and ask questions. Stay adaptable and open to new possibilities.
Embracing failure allowed me to take risks and learn from mistakes, building resilience and adaptability. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Take risks, try new things, and don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Develop a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities to improve.
For those early in their journey, focus on gaining diverse experiences, nurturing your curiosity, and being open to making mistakes. These qualities will help you grow personally and professionally, equipping you with the resilience and adaptability needed for your career.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, I usually make a list to organize my thoughts. This helps me see what I actually need to do, rather than letting tasks spin around in my head and create more anxiety. I start by tackling the easier items on the list, especially when I’m really overwhelmed. This approach helps me reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by making the list smaller through action.

However, if I’m extremely overwhelmed and unable to take action, I make myself take a break. I might go for a walk in nature, take a day to rest, or engage in activities I enjoy. This break helps clear my mind and rejuvenates me, making it easier to handle the tasks ahead.

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